Peace Pays

OUR VIEWS

As A Fund-raising Effort For The Palestinian Authority Serves To Point Out, Proceeding On The Path To Peace In The Middle East Has Economic Benefits.

December 4, 1998|By Brown

Why pursue Middle East peace?

In simple, human terms it could end the killing and suffering of the men, women and children who fall prey each year to political, ethnic and religious violence. Many Americans have become victims by stumbling into terrorist attacks.

But peace also could provide another benefit - one that a fund-raising effort for the Palestinian Authority in Washington, D.C., this week underscored: economic development. The United States and other nations wisely pledged billions of dollars in financial aid to the Palestinians.

An economically strong Middle East, minus rampant animosity, would allow unprecedented growth. The Palestinian Authority, which has struggled economically since its formation half a decade ago, needs to grow.

The Palestinians would benefit most noticeably from an enduring, peaceful and cooperative relationship with Israel.

After a promising start with historic peace accords in 1993, that relationship in recent years grew more difficult, as each side dug in its heels and dished out testy political rhetoric. Fortunately, tensions have eased since a recent peace conference in Maryland that President Bill Clinton ably led.

At that meeting, Israel's government showed a renewed willingness to work with Palestinians, specifically in its commitment to move ahead with the next in a series of phased withdrawals from the West Bank of the Jordan River.

And Palestinian officials responded in kind, showing a renewed willingness to work with Israel, specifically in their commitment to step up efforts to control terrorism.

Of course, that breakthrough didn't eliminate discord between Israelis and Palestinians. The concessions provided fodder for extremists in both camps, who immediately protested the new accord. In some cases, protests escalated to senseless violence.

Importantly, though, the agreement that some have called the last chance for Middle East peace is holding.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stood up to critics and won the Israeli Cabinet's approval for the accord.

Palestinian leader Yasser Arafat has cracked down on terrorism. That will help in addressing Mr. Arafat's complaint that the Palestinians' economic woes stem primarily from Israel's periodic closing off of the West Bank because of terrorism.

Those closures certainly hurt, but Israel's government has a responsibility to protect its citizens.

The new accord allows both leaders to claim victory and the region a leg of hope upon which to stand. Israeli and Palestinian leaders shouldn't allow outbreaks of violence - as happened this week - to derail that progress. Mr. Netanyahu has threatened to stop complying with the recent accord. Mr. Arafat complains that Israel is trying to impose new conditions.

The original Wye commitments are reasonable and realistic. Both sides should follow them in good faith.

And, as Monday's Palestinian fund-raiser underscored, other nations gladly respond to breakthroughs in the Middle East, including opening their purses.

That will help lay the foundation for a better future, especially if peace holds and economic development can advance.